Article Contributed by Missing Piece Group
Published on 2026-08-30
Michael Lee & The Wartime Limousine announce their self-titled debut album, due out October 30 via Skylark Soul Co.
Known for his dazzling musicianship and fiery blues growl, Fort Worth-based singer and guitarist Michael Lee and his band put a bold 21st-century spin on the funky, horn-fueled sounds of vintage soul music for a timeless body of work centered on the many ups and downs of love.
Along with the announcement, Michael Lee & The Wartime Limousine share their new single, “Drowning,” a deceptively bouncy ode to resilience in the face of adversity.
Listen to “Drowning” via YouTube
Michael says of the new single, “I’ve been down this road myself, so this one comes from a very real, heavy place. It’s about that ‘come to Jesus’ moment you eventually have to face when you're caught up in your own debauchery. It’s the harsh realization that no one else is coming to save you, and you have to do the hard work of purging your soul to save yourself.”
The foundation for the songs on the self-titled debut was cut live in the studio with Michael, keyboardists Chad Stockslager of Joshua Ray Walker and Jordache Grant of Abraham Alexander, pedal steel player and frequent Khruangbin collaborator Will Van Horn, bassist Daniel Balis, and drummer Matt Trimble of Bastards of Soul.
The sessions were recorded at Niles City Sound, the acclaimed Fort Worth studio best known for helping launch Leon Bridges’ career more than a decade ago. The resulting album blends influences ranging from Motown to psychedelic soul while showcasing Michael’s versatility with a strong sense of restraint and vulnerability.
“It should be easy, being in a relationship, at least that’s what the matriarchs of my family always told me,” says Michael. “I’ve never had that until now. From the lyrics to the musical choices on this album, there is an overall sense of ease that I’d say stems from the love I have with my wife.”
After teaching himself how to play guitar as a teenager and cutting his teeth in the Texas blues scene, Michael’s showmanship caught the attention of NBC’s The Voice, where he earned a three-chair turn and a spot on Blake Shelton’s team thanks to his performance of B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone.”
Rather than shifting toward the country star’s Nashville wheelhouse, Michael remained rooted in Texas blues. That experience eventually led to him recording “The Thrill Is Gone” with The B.B. King Blues Band for a tribute album that also featured artists including Taj Mahal and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
Following that studio session, The B.B. King Blues Band invited Michael to join them on the road in 2019. The dream gig was cut short by the pandemic, but the experience proved invaluable.
That time on the road gave him the momentum to launch The Wartime Limousine, whose name comes from a World War II reference and reflects Michael’s deep affinity for an era that predates him.
An old soul at heart, his connection to the music serves as a natural foundation for writing about one of the most relatable human experiences.
“The core of this album is love, lost and won,” says Michael. “Understanding everything, we’ll be fine! I want people to experience that optimism and resilience through the music, and hopefully even find themselves in these stories of old love lost and new love found.”
On September 17, Michael Lee & The Wartime Limousine will perform new music at Visit Fort Worth’s Cowtown GitDown event at Tennessee Brew Works as part of this year’s AMERICANAFEST in Nashville.
MICHAEL LEE & THE WARTIME LIMOUSINE TRACKLIST
1. Starlight
2. We’ll Be Fine
3. Drowning
4. You and I
5. Caught It
6. Lesser Than A Better Man
7. End of the Line
8. Outta My Head
9. Living High
10. I Am Yours
